balenaEtcher
6.8#3 in bootable usb softwareFrom $1,720 a yearFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitbalenaEtcher vs UNetbootin
UNetbootin
7.1#1 in bootable usb softwareFree planFree planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | balenaEtcher | UNetbootin |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Etcher flashes OS images to SD cards and USB drives. | UNetbootin creates bootable Live USB drives for Ubuntu and other Linux distributions without burning a CD. |
| Support | The documentation directs users with problems to raise an issue on GitHub, where the balena.io team can help. | The FAQ directs users to GitHub Issues for bug reports and GitHub Pull Requests for patches. |
balenaEtcher plans
- balenaCloud FreeFree
- balenaEtcherFree
- balenaCloud Prototype$159 a month
- balenaCloud Pilot$329 a month
- balenaCloud Production$1,439 a month
- balenaCloud Prototype$1,720 a year
UNetbootin plans
- UNetbootinFree
Pick balenaEtcher if…
Etcher suits people creating installation media or writing an OS image to an SD card or USB drive on Linux, macOS, or Windows. Users who need persistent storage on a live USB should look elsewhere.
Pick UNetbootin if…
UNetbootin suits people preparing a bootable Linux installation or system utility from a USB drive or hard disk. It is available for Linux, macOS and Windows.